Minnesota's budget

Minnesota Public Radio coverage of the Minnesota budget negotiations.

School officials ponder funding, policy changes in budget
Education officials across the state spent the day poring over the $13.6 billion dollar K-12 education bill that Gov. Dayton signed today. The central provision is a $700 million delay in state aid payments for schools. But it also includes a host of other changes that will affect how schools operate over the next few years.July 20, 2011
Transportation bill to make improvement, but falls short of need
The nearly $500 million bonding bill signed into law Wednesday will borrow $10 million for local road maintenance and safety improvements.July 20, 2011
State parks could re-open for day use Friday
The end of Minnesota's government shutdown will bring the re-opening of state parks, one of the most visible casualties of the budget impasse, starting as early as Friday.July 20, 2011
Shutdown ends as Dayton signs budget
DFL Gov. Mark Dayton has signed the state budget, ending a 20-day state government shutdown.July 20, 2011
State agencies plan for slow restart
State agencies planned for weeks to cope with the shut down, and now they have to throw all their plans into reverse.July 20, 2011
Special session is over
The state budget and the end of the 20 day state government shutdown are now in DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's hands.July 20, 2011
At a glance: Details of the budget bills
Final agreements on several budget bills are being made public. As the work on the remaining bills continues, MPR will add details as they are announced.July 20, 2011
Cuts and compromise on environmental bill
The environment bill negotiated between Gov. Mark Dayton and lawmakers includes some budget cuts and some compromise on policy issues.July 19, 2011
Bill cuts funding for higher education by 10%
In the next two years, Minnesota's higher education system will each receive a little over a billion dollars in state aid, 10 percent less than they received in the previous two years.July 19, 2011
State transportation cuts lessened under agreement
The transportation bill agreed to as part of the state budget agreement doesn't cut transit funding as deeply as originally proposed and even contains some additional money for road maintenance.July 19, 2011
Lawmakers pass tax bill, borrowing on tobacco payments
The Minnesota Legislature has passed a package of changes to state tax law that maintains state aid to cities and counties at levels from last year. The bill also includes the provision to let the state borrow against future tobacco settlement payments, which is a key piece of new revenue that led to the budget deal.July 19, 2011
Delay in reaching finalized budget worries state workers
Many expected political squabbling to slow down a solution, but delays in reaching a finalized budget worry some of the roughly 22,000 state workers who remain laid off.July 19, 2011
Shutdown erodes state's already-sullied reputation for good governance
A veteran political reporter says Minnesota's reputation for good governance has eroded and "gone the way of Northwest Airlines."July 19, 2011
Charter school advocates want exemption from payment delay
Minnesota charter school advocates said the tentative budget agreement between the governor and Republican lawmakers will hit charters harder than traditional schools.July 18, 2011
Capitol to reopen Tuesday
The Minnesota State Capitol reopens 9 a.m. Tuesday,. Gov. Mark Dayton's office released the announcement Monday evening.July 18, 2011